LG has officially unveiled its next Optimus-branded phone, a handset with attention-grabbing specifications.

(Credit: LG)

The new Optimus G will run on Android Ice Cream Sandwich when it launches, and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor and — wait for it — 2GB of RAM. It also packs in a new Adreno 320 graphics processor, which has performed well in preview benchmarks.

LG opts for a 4.7-inch LCD display with 720p resolution, but where this display deviates from screens we've seen before is in the use of new in-cell touchscreen tech, where the touch component is built in to the LCD panel, negating the need for a separate touch layer. This makes for thinner phones, and it presumably helps to reduce the gap between the panel and the glass, resulting in a better, more vibrant picture.

It's just a shame that LG's designers are still on holidays. A phone with this much horsepower really deserves a unique and highly desirable design. Instead, we get the same flat, black boxes that we've seen repeatedly from LG over the past few release cycles.

LG will release the G in Korea next month, followed by Japan. There's no word yet as to when we might expect this superphone down under, but our fingers are crossed for sooner rather than later.

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Joe capitalises on a life-long love of blinking lights and upbeat MIDI soundtracks covering the latest developments in smartphones and tablet computers. When not ruining his eyesight staring at small screens, Joe ruins his eyesight playing video games and watching movies.
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